Shloka 20
Śikhaṇḍinī’s Marriage Arrangement and the Daśārṇa Envoy’s Accusation (शिखण्डिनी-विवाह-विप्रलम्भ-प्रसङ्गः)
यक्षेणर्द्धिमता राजन् स्थूणाकर्णेन पालितम् । तद्धभयादेव च जनो विसर्जयति तद् वनम्
yakṣeṇarddhimatā rājan sthūṇākarṇena pālitam | tad-bhayād eva ca jano visarjayati tad vanam, rājan ||
O König, jener Wald wurde von dem wohlhabenden und mächtigen Yakṣa namens Sthūṇākarṇa bewacht. Aus Furcht vor ihm allein mieden die gewöhnlichen Leute diesen Wald und gingen nicht mehr dorthin.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Power—especially when backed by fear—can effectively restrict access and shape public behavior; a ruler should understand how protection, intimidation, and public safety influence society and the use of common spaces.
Bhīṣma tells the king that a certain forest was under the protection of a mighty Yakṣa named Sthūṇākarṇa, and because people feared him, they stopped entering the forest and effectively abandoned it.